Munibung Hill ~ walking a significant Awabakal site
by Karen Nicoll
Walk leader, National Parks Association
July 2025
Munibung Hill – near Speers Point and Warners Bay – is a significant and sacred Awabakal site where Boras or Ceremonies were once held. Stone arrangements signifying Ceremonial grounds have been found in this area.
The Awabakal people know Munibung Hill as Kona-Konaba. One translation of Kona-Konaba is place of stone – stone from this area was used for tools and ochre was found here.
Walk: Grade 3-4, steep, approx 3 hrs, 7 kms, reduced a little due to a recent landslide
On a glorious sunny winter’s day our National Parks Association walkers met on Awabakal land at Speer’s Point jetty. The first highlight was spotting two ospreys in their nest near the lake. Thanks to Glen for pointing them out!
Our walk continued up to Quarry St where we started walking from the old quarry along the Tamarind Nature walk. We passed a variety of plants including Native Tamarinds, Red Ash trees, Bird Nest ferns, Cabbage-tree palms and myriad ferns.
The Gondwana Rainforest track took us up to Birabaan’s lookout where we were treated to expansive views over Lake Macquarie.
While sitting at Birabaan’s lookout we contemplated that Lake Macquarie has only existed in its present form for about 6,000 years. 12,000 years ago, before the ice melted, Lake Macquarie was a pleasant valley, perhaps with a little stream running through it, and situated about 30 kms from the ocean.
Birabaan (also spelt Biraban, translated as Eaglehawk or wedgetail eagle, was an Awabakal leader who developed a friendship with the English missionary Rev Threlkeld. Threlkeld established an Aboriginal mission and was interested in Aborigines lore and the local language. Birabaan passed on some Awabakal language to Threlkeld. Together they eventually published the Bible (or parts of it) in the Awabakal language – the first Aboriginal language to be put into print!
Birdsong wafted through the air. Allocasuarinas, Acacias and Spotted Gums lined much of the Songline track along the ridge – albeit the track in parts was badly eroded and overgrown with lantana and introduced grasses.
At the Ocean view lookout, an open grassy area we spotted the ships out in the ocean waiting to come into the port. To the west the Watagans and Sugarloaf (another important Aboriginal Bora location) were visible. It is easy to understand why this hill is so significant for Awabakal people.
On the return journey we meandered down another part of the Gondwana Rainforest track
The Munibung Hill Conservation Society are wanting to protect this special area from development. Their vision includes a Cultural Heritage Park with Indigenous information, a protected Nature Reserve with maintained tracks and a place for Dark Sky viewing.
Walk: Grade 3-4, steep, approx 3 hrs, 7 kms, reduced a little due to a recent landslide
Further information
Read about the fascinating Stories of Our Town documentary – Birabaan and Threlkeld Finding the Third Space. This is available on YouTube also, and shortly will be shown on SBS
View the interactive Awabakal Season calendar where Awabakal words can be heard on the audio function
Find our more about the Munibung Hill Conservation Society, and the multiple walks available.